Drop hammer



April 10, 1934. l F. J. vLcHEK Laccxx-LK C31 VLChe K www April l0, 1934.F. J. vLcHEK DROP HAMMER Ernani( J- vlhzk I Nx/LNTOR B/MMMM AT To KN yeApril 1o, 1934. Ff J, VLHEK 1,954,156

DROP HAMMER Filed DeC. 22. 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 10, 1934.

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F. J. VLCHEK DROPv HAMMER Filed Dec.

22. 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 y Q i Les:

Brqr J: Vcheirl A1- -r c Rwje Patented Apr. 10, 1934 UNITED STATES DROPHAMMER Frank J. Vlehek, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Vlchek ToolCompany, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 22,1930, Serial No. 503,970

15 Claims.

This invention relates to drop hammers and has for an object theprovision of a new and improved construction of this type.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming apart ofthis application I have shown, for purposes of illustration, one formwhich my invention may assume, and in these drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational View of an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of said embodiment,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 2 showing the hammerraising mechanism in released position,

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of themechanism, showing the operating rolls in engaged position and thesupporting dogs in disengaged position,

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the .rolls disengaged,and the dogs engaged, with reference to the tail piece means of thehammer head,

Figure 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view corresponding to theline 6-6 of Figure 1,

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional Viewcorresponding to the line 7--7 of Figure 1,

Figure 8 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View of the mechanismshowing the locking dogs and the operating mechanism therefor,

Figure 9 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View corresponding to theline 9 9 of Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view corresponding to the line 10-10of Figure 8, showing parts of the mechanism in elevation,

Figure 11 is a detailed horizontal sectional view corresponding to theline 11-11 of Figure 1,

Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View of theclutch mechanism employed in. said embodiment, showing parts ofthecooperating construction in elevation, while Figure 13 is an enlargedtop plan View of the construction disclosed in Figure 12, portionsthereof being shown .in horizontal section.

The embodiment of my invention herein shown comprises a base support 12which may be sunk a suitable distance into al lloor to provide a firmanchorage therefor. The base 12 is provided with a platform 13 for theaccommodation of a die support 14 detachably fixed in position by setscrews A15 carried by set screw supports 16 afxed to the platform 13,and the die support 14 may have any suitable means by which a die may Fbe secured thereto.

Secured to the upper portion of the base support 12 and reachingupwardly therefrom to a connecting head 17 are spaced standards 18 and19, provided along their inner surfaces with projecting ribs 20receivable in similarly formed guide grooves in the hammer head 21, thelatter being adapted to be reciprocated vertically between the saidstandards 18 and 19 as will be understood, and carrying a suitable die22 adapted for cooperation with a die which may be attached to the diesupport 14. The upper end of the hammer head 21 has secured thereto tailpiece means 23 which may comprise a pair of spaced boards 24-24, eachsubstantially rectangular or diamond-shaped in cross-section providingV- shaped contours with the corners truncated as indicated at 25, theboards 24-24 extending upwardly through suitable openings in the head 17and into engagement with hammer actuating means.

The hammer actuating means comprises a pair of rolls 26 and 27, eachprovided with a pair o! V-shaped grooves 28 which accommodate the V-shaped contours of the boards 24-24. The roll 26 is keyed to a shaft 29,the opposite ends of which are supported in eccentric bearings 30 and31, rotatably journaled in upstanding side plates 32 formed upon thehead plate 19, and the shaft 29 is driven by a suitable pulley 33actuated by a belt 34, taking over a pulley 110, xed to the shaft 111driven by a motor 112 supported upon a platform 113, carried by the sideplates 32. The eccentric bearing members 30 and 31 are reduced at theirinner ends as indicated at 35 for accommodation of segmental housingmembers 36 having flanges 37 secured by locking bolts 38, the housingmembers being movable with the eccentric bearings 30 and 31. The roll 27is constructed and mounted in the same manner as the roll 26 and similarreference characters are employed to designate like parts of the twomountings; and the shaft 29 of the roll 27 is driven by a separate motor114 through a belt 115, and the two rolls 26 and 27 are thereforerotated in unison though in opposite directions.

Each of the eccentric bearing members 30 and 31 projects outwardlybeyond the adjacent supporting plate 32, and each has a collar 39rigidly aiixed thereto and provided with a crank 40 pivotally secured toone of the links 42, and the opposite ends of said links 42 arepivotally connected to a reciprocating block 43, the latter beingmounted for vertical reciprocation in the guides 44 provided upon theadjacent supporting plate 32. The connection of the links 42 to theblock 43 is by means of bolts 45, and such bolts may be employed tosecure the links 42 to the upper portion ci the block 43, or placed inthe holes 46 at the lower portion of the block, thus to Vary theoscillating movement imparted to the cranks 40-40 by the links 42-42.This mechanism provides interconnected lever means which act in a mannersimilar `to toggle levers to oscillate the bearings 30 and 31 of therolls 26 and 27 and eiect simultaneous app-roach or recession of therolls 26 and 27 with reference to the tail boards 24-24.

Mechanism is provided for effecting recprocation of the block 43 intimed relation, such mechanism comprising an oscillatable bar 47supported adjacent its opopsite ends by bearings 1B-48, and secured tothe upper end of the rod 47 is a cam 49 on the face of which rides aroller 50 carried by the lower end of a post 51 s cured to the block 43,whereby oscillation of the cam 49 effects reciprocation of the block 43.At 'the lower end of the rod 47, and at one side thereof, is secured alaterally extending lever 52, and at the opposite side of the rod 47 issecured a laterally extending lever 53 of greater' length than the lever52. Cooperable with the lever 52 is a slidable trip member 54 having atone end roller 55 engageable with the inner surface or" t .e lever 52and having at its opposite end a roller 56 engageable with a cam 57formed at the lower portion and on the rear side of the hammer head 21,the trip member 54 being slidably caried by a bracket 570 locatedadjacent the lower end the oscillatable rod 47 and secured to theadiacent flange 58 of the standard 19 by means of a bolt 59. A secondtrip member 66 is provided at the opposite side of the oscillatable rod47, slidably supported in a bracket 6l, having a roller 62 at its innerend for engagement with a cam 53 on the upper forward portion of thehammer head 21 and having a roller 64 at its opposite end adapted forengagement with the inner surface of the lever 53. Accidentaloscillation of the rod 47 is prevented by a latch member 71 cooperatingwith a collar 72 mounted at the lower end of the rod 47, provided in itsperiphery with a pair of notches 73 adapted for the accommodation of atooth 74 on the latch 71. The latch 71 is pivoted at one end to a post75 on the adjacent standard 19 and at its opposite end is resilientlypressed toward the collar 72 by a spring 76. When the rod 47 isoscillated to the limit of its movement in one direction, the tooth 74will engage one of the notches 73, and when the rod 47 is positivelymoved to the limit of its movement in the opposite direction, the tooth74 will engage the other notch 73, thereby preventing accidentalmovement oi the rod 47.

The bracket 61 is mounted for vertical sliding movement along the sideportion 58 of the standard 19 through the provision of interengagingguide means 65, and vertical reciprocatien of said bracket 61 ispreferably effected through threaded engagement with a screw 66 conned trotation and mounted in suitable bearings 67.y

The screw 66 may be rotated in one direction or the other to raise orlower the bracket 61 and trip member 60, and thereby regulate the lengthof stroke of the hammer head 21, and mechanism for bringing about thisoperation comprises an extension 68 upon the screw 66, having bevel gear69 secured thereto and meshing with bevel gears 116 and 117 rotatablymounted upon the motor drive shaft 118, the gear 116 having a conicalrecess in its inner face providing a conical the screw 66 in onedirection or the other, depending upon whether it is desired to elevateor lower the bracket 6l. The clutch member 121 has a collar 122 theretoand provided with projecting pins 123 adapted for the reception cislotted portions 124 of a shifting fork 125, pivotally supported as at126, and said fork is adapted to be oscillated by a rocking lever 127 towhich the fork 125 is connected, and secured to one end of the rockinglever 127 is a tension spring 128 connected to the platform 113 of theinachine; the opposite end of the rocking lever 127 has one end ofoperating rod 129 connected thereto, and the rod extends downwardly andis connected to the outer end of a level 136 pivotally connected by alink 131 to a relatively small foot pedal 132, pivoted at 133 to thebase 12. Secured to the rod 129 are limit stops 134 and 135 adapted tobe engaged by the bracket 61 at the limit of its downward or upwardmovement, op erating to shift the rod 129 in the direction in.

which the bracket 61 is moving and thereby cause the shifting fork 125to automatically shift the clutch membe" 121 into neutral position atthe upper and lower limits of movement of the bracket 6l.

Means are also provided for automatically en gaging the tail board means23 of the hammer to the hammer head 21 in elevated position,

such means comprising a pair of opposed dogs 77 and 78, each of which isprovided with a pair of V-shaped grooves 79 adapted for accommodation ofthe V-conteurs of the tail boards 24. dog 77 is pivotally mounted upon acylindrical sleeve 39 having a lateral extension 81 projecting through aslot 82 in the rear portion of the dog 77, and the outer end of theextension is pivotally connected to an angular portion 83 of a rod 84,the lower end of which is iixedly though adjustably secured to a bracket85 by lock nuts S6. The

sleeve 80 in turn is eccentrically mounted upon a cylindrical member 37having trunnions 38 eccentric thereto and rotatably mounted in bearings89 carried by opstanding side walls 98 upon the head plate 17. The dog78 except for its op posite disposition is mounted in identically thesame manner as the dog 77 and similar reference characters are utilizedfor designating like parts of each. One oi the trunnions 8S of themounting tor the dog 77 has a crank 91 iixedly secured thereto, theouter end of which is provided with a pin 92 having a block 93 rotatablymounted thereon and working in a slot 94 formed in an actuating slidemember 95 conned to horizontal sliding movement by guide means 96, andhaving an extension 97 secured by a slotted connection 98 to a bellcrank lever 99 oscillated by a rod 10o to which movement is transmittedby a foot pedal 101 pivoted to the base 12 and having a bell crankextension connected by a link 136 to a bell crank L of the trunnion 83of the dog construction 77 is transmitted in an opposite direction tothe dog construction 78. The dog 77 is also provided with a lateralextension and the dog 78 with a similar extension 106, disposed to liein the path The trunnion 83 at of movement of the crank members 102 and104 13'?" Vio and adapted to be engaged by said crank members during onemovement thereof to lift and `swing the dogs pivotally about the sleeves80 and away from the boards 24-`24. Adjustment of the positions of thesleeves 80 may be eiTected by loosening the lock nuts 86, shifting therods 84 vertically and again securing the lock nuts 86, the verticalmovement of the rods 84, through the extensions 81 rotating the sleeves80 about the cylindrical members 87 and because of the eccentricdisposition of said sleeves effecting adjustment of the operatingpositions of the dogs 77 and 78. Slight movement of the sleeves 80 whichmay take place while in relatively iixed yadjusted position is permittedby iiexing of the rods 84.

In operation, assuming the'rolls 26 and 27 to be revolving in oppositedirections, and in engagement with the boards S24-24, and the dogs 77and 78 retracted, t Le hammer head 21 will be elevated, and suchelevation continued until the cam 63 thereon comes into contact with thetrip member 00, moving said trip member 60 so as to g press the lever 58outwardly and oscillate the rod 47, movement being transmitted throughthe cam 49 on the rod 47 to the post 51 connected to the block 43,resulting in upward reciprocatio-n of the block 43 and through the links42 and the cranks oscillating the eccentric bearings 30 and 3l, causingrecession of both of the rolls 26 and 27 with respect to the tail pieces24-24, releasing engagement therewith, and permitting the hammer head 21to drop. Just before the hammer reaches the limit of its downwardmovement the cam 57 of the hammer head 2l comes into contact with theslide 54, which presses the lever 52 outwardly, oscillating the rod 47and cam 49 in an opposite direction, permitting the downwardreciprocation of the block 43 and reengagement of the rolls 26 and 27with the tail pieces 24-24 and subsequent elevation of the hammer head21, it being understood that the rolls 26 and 27 are urged to engagementthrough the inuence of gravity exerted thereon by the housing members36, cranks 40, links 42, block 43, and post 5l, the

action of the cam 49 decelerating the descent of these parts andeffecting gradual engagement of the rolls with the boards, therebypreserving the boards against deformation and injury.

such strokes.

' that no more strokes are desired, the operator takes his foot off thepedal 101., and the dogs 77 and 78 engage the tail piece means and holdthe hammer elevated, and the nished piece of work is removed. Theoperator then, in preparing for the next operation, and before the nextpiece of work is inserted into the machine, places his foot momentarilyupon the pedal 101 and by expert manipulation will permit the tail piecemeans to slide through the dogs 77 and 78 and drop to a point short oiengagement with the lever 52; or if desired the hammer may be droppedthrough an idle stroke by disconnecting the dogs 77 and 78 bymanipulation of the foot pedal 101. Mean while the bracket 61 hasautomatically returned substantially to its lowermost position, andremains substantially in this position until the operator desires toincrease the stroke. This action occurs through the automatic operationof the means for controlling the screw. 1t will be noted that the clutchmember 121 is normally urged by the spring 128 in a direction to engagethe bevel gear 116 which rotates the screw 66 in a direction to causelowering of the bracket 61 and this rotation continues until the bracket61 contacts the limit stop 135 which shifts the clutch member 121 intoneutral position, and stops the rotation of the screw 66, therebymaintaining the bracket 61 at its low position, so that short strokesdesired at the inception of the forging operation may immediately beobtained. The foot pedal 101 may now again be depressed by the operatorto release the dogs 77 and 78 and a series of short strokes delivered,the mechanism operating automatically, governed by the trip mechanismabove described. When the operator desires longer strokes he uses thetoe of the same foot in engagement with the pedal 101 to depress thepedal 182 and such depression causes engagement of the clutch member 121with the gear 117, and rotation of the screw 66 in a direction toelevate the bracket 61 and trip member 60, to the adjusted positiondesired by the operator, who will then relieve the pressure on the pedal132 to permit the clutch member 121 to occupy a neutral position betweenthe gears 116 and 117; if how ever, the operator fails to relieve thepressure and maintains the same pressure on the pedal 132 the bracket G1will rise until it strikes the collar 134 on the rod 129, and againstthe pressure of the `loot oi the operator raise the rod 129 and throwthe clutch member 121 into neutral position, and when the operator takeshis foot oir or the pedal 132, influence of the spring 128re-establishes engagement of the clutch member 121 with the gear 116,and causes the bracket and trip member to descend to initial position.

The dogs 77 and 78 are normally urged into engagement with the boards24--24 under the iniuence of gravity, and are adapted to be retracted bydepression of the pedal 101, as already stated. Such depression of the-loot pedal 101 causes downward movement of the rod 100, clockwisemovement of the bell crank lever 99, inward movement of the slide 95,clockwise movement of the crank 91, and clockwise movement of the crank102, re sulting in rotation of the cylindrical member 87 about itseccentric trunnions 88, and bodily retraction of the dog 77 horizontallyaway from the boards 24-24, similar movement though in an oppositedirection being transmitted through the crank 104 to the cylindricalmember 87 oi the dog 78, resulting also in bodily retraction oi the dog78 horizontally away from the boards 24-24; and preferably immediatelyfollowing the inception of the bodily movement of the dogs 77 and 78they are also swung in opposte directions away from the boards 24-24about the centers of t e sleeves 80 through engagement of the cranks 102and 104 and the extension 105 of the dog 77 and extension 106 of the dog78, thereby lifting and swinging said dogs upwardly, this mechanismserving not only to more quickly release the boards 24--24 but also toinsure that the dogs 77 and 78 are removed from the boards 24-24 asufficient distance to prevent contact therewith during operation. Thehammer may be arrested at any elevated position by releasing the footpedal 101, bringing about a reversal of the movements of the mechanismcontrolling the dogs 77 and 78 and causing engagement of said dogs 77and 78 with the boards 24-24 thereby preventing the hammer head 2i fromcontinuing its descent.

Attention is called to the fact that the control mechanism may easily beadjusted tovary the length of stroke of the hammer head 2l yet operatesautomatically to return the bracket 61 and trip 60, from a higheradjusted position to a louT osition, so that short strokes may beobtained at the inception oi the forging operation and then graduallyincreased thereafter.

1t should also be noted that the operating rolls are both moved towardand from engaged position, diiering in this respect from allconstructions of which l have knowledge and having a marked advs age inthat, when released, the rolls are entirely clear of the tail pieces andiree of any danger of injuring such tail pieces. In actual practice thishas resulted in extending the liie of the tail pieces many tiines ascompared with ordinary constructions. Likewise the compound inoverientof the dogs assures rapid engagement and disengagement thereof withrespect to the boards 2li-"fl complete freedom of the tail boards whenthe dogs are in inoperative position, thereby additionally extending thelife of the tail piece providing rapid and eilicient operation.

It will un "erstood by those skilled in the art that the embodimentherein described accomn pli-shes at least the principal object of theinven tion; and it will further be understood that said embodiment iscapable oi uses and has advantages othe than th se herein particularlypointed out, it will also be apparent that various changes andinodiiications may be made Without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and consequently the embodiment herein disclosed isillustrative only the invention is not limited thereto.

I claim:

l. A drop hammer comprising: a hammer head having a tail piece, opposedrolls engageablewlth said tail piece to lift said head and disengageableto permit said hammer head to drop, and control ineens for said rolls,including an scillatable rod confined to horizontal oscillations, aslidable trip :oi-einher operable by said hammer head slidable to eiectoscillation oi said rod, adinstable longitudinally with reference tosaid rod, during operation of said hammer and a transmitting memberbetween said trip member and said rod and disposed to eiect engagementin the various adjusted positions of said trip member to thus vary thestroke of the hammer head.

2. A. drop hammer comprising: a hammer head having a tail piece; meansfor raising and dropping said hammer head; opposed dogs engageable withsaid tail piece for supporting the saine against dropping; and means foreffecting relative approach recession of both of said dogs with respectto said tail piece, means including a common control; means operable bysaid control to impart bodily movement to each or" said dogs; and:oceans operable by said control to simultaneously impart pivotalmovement to each of said dogs.

3. A drop hammer comprising: a hammer having a tailpiece; eccentiifallymounted rolls engageable and disengageable With reference to saidtailpieoe; gravity influenced means cooperating with said rolls, adaptedto be elevated to eiect relative separation of said rolls to releasesaid tailpiece, and operable when dropped to effect engagement of saidrolls with said tailpiece; control means for controlling operation ofsaid gravity influenced means; and a swingable cam having a contouredcain surface engagea-ble with said gravity inuenced means, the surfacebeing ccn toured to gradually decelerate the drop of said gravityinfluenced means and eiecting gradual engagement of said rolls withrespect to said tailpiece.

4. A drop hammer comprising: a hammer head having a tailpiece; means forraising and dropping said hainmer head; opposed clamps engageable withsaid tailpiece for supporting the saine against dropping; eccentricmembers carrying said clamps and operable when rotated to horizontallybodily shift said clamps toward and from said tailpiece, said clampsbeing pivotally swingable about the axes of said eccentric members; andlevers connected to said eccentric members for imparting rotationthereto in opposite directions, and means on said clamps interengageablewith said levers to swing the former their pivots.

5. A. hammer machine comprising: a lia-miner having a tailpiece; opposedrolls mounted upon eccentric bearings, both approachable with referenceto said tailpiece; and separable to release said. tailpiece to permitsaid hammer to drop; roll actuating mechanism cooperating with saidrolls ltor eilecting engagement and disengagement of both oi rolls; andcontrol neans having an adjustable element for controlling operation or"said roll actuating mechanisrn; a rotatable screw adapted to be rotatedduring the rise and iall of said hammer; and a nut on said screw, o;erably connected with said adjustable element to effect adjustment ofsaid element, and eect disengagement of said roll ctuating niechani inat different heights and thus vary the stroke of said hammer.

6. ln a drop hammer machine, comprising: a hammer having a tailpiece;eccentrically mounted rolls engageable and disengageable with re'- spectto said taiipiece; mechanism connected to both of said rolls and movableto effect simultaneous approach or recession of both oi said rolls withreference to each other; gravity inluenced means connected with saidmechanism and operable therethrough normally to urge both of said rollstoward engagement with said tailpiece; and control inea-ns cooperablewith said mechanism, operable by inovenient of said hanimer, forelevating permit ing descent oi said gravity influenced means to therebyoperate said rolls; said control means comprising means operable toretard the descent of said gravity influenced means to erect gradualengagement oi said rolls.

7. A drop hammer comprising: a hammer having a tailpiece; means forraising and dropping said hammer head; opposed clainps engageable withsaid tailpiece supporting the sarne against descent, each oi' saidclamps being rotatably mounted upon an eccentric bearing each bearinghaving a crank, said cranks being interconnected whereby operation orone e movement of the other to rotate said eccentric bearings and ei'ectshifting movement or said clamps toward and from each other; each oisaid clamps having means projecting into the path of movement of saidcranks, whereby movement of said cranks rotates said clamps as well asshifts the saine.

8. A drop hammer machine, comprising: a hammer having a tailpiece;eccentrica-ily u rolls engageable and disengageable with reference tosaid tailpiece; mechanism connected to rolls and movable to effectsimultaneous approach or recession of both of said rolls with respect toeach other; gravity influence means connected with said mechanism andoperable through said mechanism normally to urge both of said rolls inone direction with reference to said tailpiece; an elongatedoscillatable rod oscillatable about its longitudinal axis and disposedalong the path of said hammer and having means adapted to be moved bysaid hammer to oscillate said oscillatable rod; and means fortransmitting oscillatory movements of said rod to said mechanism wherebymovement in one direction effects elevation` of said gravity influencedmeans, and movement in a reverse direction permits descent of saidgravity influenced means.

9. A drop hammer machine, comprising: a hammer having a tailpiece;operating rolls engageable and disengageable with reference to saidtailpiece; mechanism connected with both of said rolls and operable toeffect simultaneous approach or recession of both of said rolls withrespect to each other; an elongated oscillatable rod oscillatable aboutits longitudinal axis and disposed along the path of said hammer andhaving means adapted to be moved by said hammer unit to oscillate saidoscillatable rod; and means for transmitting oscillatory movements ofsaid rod to said mechanism whereby movement in one direction effectsmovement of said rolls to elevate said hammer, and movement in a reversedirection eiiects movement of said rolls to permit descent of saidhammer.'`

10.A drop hammer machine comprising: a hammer having a tailpiece;actuating means engageable with respect to said tailpiece to lift saidhammer and disengageable with respect to said tailpiece to drop saidhammer; and mechanisin ior eiecting engagement and disengagement oi saidactuating means, including control means initially disposed inpredetermined position, adjustabie along the path of the hammer, andadapted to be operated by said hammer in its adjusted position to effectdisengagement of said actuating means to thus vary the stroke of saidhammer, and a screw operatively connected with said control means andunder the control of the operator, and rotatable in reverse directionsto so adjust said control means; and automatically operable clutch meansfor rotating said screw to return said control means to saidpredetermined position following adjustment thereof.

11. A drop hammer machine comprising: a hammer having a tailpiece;actuating means engageable with respect to said tailpiece to lift saidhammer and disengageable with respect to said tailpiece to drop saidhammer; and mechanism for effecting engagement and disengagement of saidactuating means, including control means initially disposed inpredetermined position adjustable along the path of the hammer, andadapted to be operated by said hammer in its adjusted position to effectdisengagement of said actuating means to thus vary the stroke of saidhammer, and power means operatively connected with said control means,and under the control of the operator, and operable to so adjust saidcontrol means; and automatically operable means for actuating said powermeans to return said control means to said predetermined positionfollowing adjustment thereof.

12. A drop hammer machine comprising: a hammer having a tailpiece;actuating means engageable with respect to said tailpiece to lift saidhammer and disengageable with respect to said tailpiece to drop saidhammer; an oscillatable rod disposed along the path of said hammer andhaving trip means adapted to be moved by said hammer to oscillate saidoscillatable rod, said trip means being initially disposed inpredetermined position and adjustable along the path of Said rod; meansfor transmitting movements of said rod to said actuating means; powermeans operatively connected with said trip means, and under control ofthe operator, and operable to adjust said trip means; and automaticallyoperable means for actuating said power means to return said trip meansto said predetermined position following adjustment thereof.

13. In a drop hammer machine, comprising: a hammer having a tailpieceoperating rolls adapted to be engaged and disengaged with respect'oscillate said oscillatable rod; and means for transmitting oscillatorymovements of said rod to said mechanism whereby movement in onedirection eiects elevation of said gravity influenced means, andmovement in a reverse direction permits descent oi said gravityinfluenced means.

14. In a drop hammer machine, comprising: a hammer having a tailpiece;operating rolls adapted to be engaged and disengaged with respect tosaid tailpiece, and each mounted upon an eccentric bearing; a crankconnected to each of said eccentric bearings, and each crank having oneend of a link pivotally connected thereto; gravity influenced meansconnected with the opposite ends of said links, and operable throughsaid links and cranks normally to urge both of said rolls towardengagement with said tailpiece; control means for elevating andpermitting descent of said gravity influenced means to there- `byoperate said rolls; opposed clamps engageable with said tailpiece forsupporting the same against descent, each of said clamps being rotatablymounted upon an eccentric bearing and each bearing having a crank, saidcranks being interconnected whereby operation or one effects movement ofthe other to rotate said eccentric bearings and effect shifting movementof said clamps toward and from each other; each of said clamps havingmeans projecting into the path of movement of said cranks, to be movedthereby to rotate said clamps as the same are shifted,

15. A drop hammer machine comprising: a hammer unit, including a hammer;actuating means for elevating said hammer unit; an oscillatable roddisposed along the path of said hammer and having a lateral extensionextending longitudinally along said rod; means for transmittingoscillatory movements of said rod to said actuating means; a membermounted for adjustment along the path of said hammer; and means movablycarried by said member, adapted to engage the lateral extension of saidoscillatable rod at various positions therealong, and disposed to beactuated by movement of said hammer.

FRANK J. VLCHEK.

